Activists worried about EU climate change resolve

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Environmental groups voiced concern on Monday that European leaders would water down proposals that seek sharp cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by developed nations in the coming years.

European Union environment ministers agreed earlier this month that developed nations should pursue cuts in greenhouse gases of 15 to 30 percent by 2020 and 60 to 80 percent by 2050 compared with baseline levels set in the Kyoto Protocol, which uses 1990 as a base in most cases.

The ministers were to recommend that EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday adopt those targets in their formal conclusions.

But Germany—traditionally known for supporting green causes—and Austria tried to torpedo those targets in recent meetings of the ambassadors in Brussels, environmentalists said. “We are concerned about the change of heart by certain countries that up till now have been climate champions—Germany and Austria,” said Greenpeace climate expert Mahi Sideridou.

She said Germany last week opposed keeping the 2050 targets in the European leaders’ conclusions and Austria had opposed keeping both sets of targets.

But Luxembourg, which currently holds the EU rotating presidency, has insisted on keeping the targets in, she said, and other nations have also been broadly supportive.

Environmental group WWF also voiced its worries. “WWF is extremely concerned that the EU heads of state and government meeting in the European Council on 22-23 March will undermine the visionary approach on climate change recently adopted by EU environment ministers,” it said in a statement.

A German government spokesman said the country would remain committed to the 2020 goals but declined to comment on 2050. 

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